what chokes for grouse hunting

[glassman48]

I am curious what chokes most hunters are using for grouse/woodcock hunting. My A grade fox is a 12 gauge and is cylinder and modified, with 28" barrels. I have had a couple of "long" shots in a fairly open setting already and took a shot at woodcock with my cylinder barrel I am guessing bird was 20 yards when I shot and I thought sure that I could not miss. Is a cylinder bore for shots less than that? I have an over/under 20 gauge that I used both barrels were very open early in season, then I changed to imp. cylinder and modified when leaves fell if I remember correctly. I patterned my fox at about 15 yards with cylinder and never patterned it farther back. I am wondering if I should be using the modified barrel for the longer shots if I can think that fast:)

[glassman48]

I forgot to add notify button, on first post, I don't know how to add it without adding another post. Thanks in advance for any input.

[classicioi]

Ed,

The only real way to know for sure how it performs at 20 or 30 yards is to pattern it ... I will say that the two factory cylinder choked guns that I have both have some choke in the cylinder barrel. My Parker 20 has factory cyl & mod chokes and the cylinder barrel has .004 choke and kills dove dead at 30 yards with RST low velocity shells.

Just my own personal experience...

[glassman48]

classicoi,
Thank you for your input, just trying to figure some things out. Haven't hunted in years, so I was wondering what other hunters are using. Thanks, Ed

[Jeff S]

Ed, it was nice visiting with you today. I just checked an old Excel spreadsheet and it shows that your right barrel is choked at .002", which I believe is customary for Fox "cylinder". The left barrel is .021", which some might refer to as "improved modified". Those measurements were taken by me. My notes also show that I took 3 shots using RST #8's and the right barrel averaged 60.6% of the shot within a 30" circle at 40 yards. The 3 shot average for the left barrel was 71.0% of the pellets within the 30" circle. The 40 yard target placement was arrived at by taking 40 paces with my ISO 9000 calibrated stubby German legs. I performed this test for my own enjoyment and your results may vary.

[Jim Cloninger]

Good info, Jeff. Ed got more than just the gun. Jim

[Researcher]

Don't need no choke for grouse hunting. Just "Partridge" sights --

[glassman48]

Ed, it was nice visiting with you today. I just checked an old Excel spreadsheet and it shows that your right barrel is choked at .002", which I believe is customary for Fox "cylinder". The left barrel is .021", which some might refer to as "improved modified". Those measurements were taken by me. My notes also show that I took 3 shots using RST #8's and the right barrel averaged 60.6% of the shot within a 30" circle at 40 yards. The 3 shot average for the left barrel was 71.0% of the pellets within the 30" circle. The 40 yard target placement was arrived at by taking 40 paces with my ISO 9000 calibrated stubby German legs. I performed this test for my own enjoyment and your results may vary.

Jeff, thanks for stopping by, thats a good pattern for a cylinder bore I believe, I am wondering if it is the guy shooting the gun The stuff I hunt in sometimes is so thick, I can hardly get the gun up for a shot. The woodcock I got, I shot so fast with the cylinder bore, I thought I would of shredded the bird. I just like asking questions in here because the input I get back is very helpful. I really hope you can find a 1/2 day in the next 3 weeks or whenever the flight birds get down. Sometimes after not hunting for so many years just reading all the posts in here really help me with some of the decisions I make about hunting in general. Thanks again for all your help everyone.

[Sporrns]

,005 RB, .011 in the Left. Sound familiar? Kevin

[Dave Erickson]

Chokes for grouse: none and some

[glassman48]

twice this fall, I got a grouse and a woodcock with my second barrel, I would shoot first barrel into the leaves in between branches, then there might be a small opening at 30 yards or so and I would connect with the improved modified. The leaves are finally dropping enough for easier shots, I am starting to like the 2 triggers so I can pick a barrel. My dog is getting several points in 2 hours hunting around here.